Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1887-09-23
The Great Reunion.

Never before 10 the history of But
Ter have its people taken 80 general
and so absorbing an interest
in any one affair as they did
in the proposed reunion of the
llth Regiment of Penn'a Reserves.
Never before has the town been so
we'll decorated, nor have all the de-
tails of complicated program work
ed so harmoniously and been so well
carried out. The day broke clear and
fair, and found Butler in gala attire,
with all it's people awake to its great
event.
By half.past nine all the organiza-
tions were in the vicinity of the in
tersection of Mexican and Jefferson
streets, the Chief Marshall and his
aids went to the West Penn depot to
await the arrival of the train with
members of the regiment, and when
it arrived the members formed in line
and marched up street led by Col.
Jackson and Major Burke on horse
back. Arriving in front of the JET
ferson street school building, the
school children broke out with the
song, "My Country 'Tis of Thee,
Sweet Land of Liberty" They
sang beautifully, and the regiment
stopped and listened to and applaud
ed them. The procession then form
ed as follows-Msjor Reed and aids
on horseback, county and borough
officials, and citizens in carriages,
Germania Band of Butler, 1lth Reg.
Penn'a Reserves Cd foot numbering
about 300 and led by Col. Jackson
and Mai. Burke an horseback, G. A.
r. band of Butler, members of g. A.
| r. and old soldiers Of Butler county
numbering about 500 in line. Mt
Chestnut Band, Soldiers Orphans
from Butler home, and Butler Fire
Companies in uniform. The route as
advertised was marched over, all the
strangers admiring the beautiful
arches, NOTES and decorations, and
when the parade arrived in front of
the Court House, formed with the
members of the llth nearest the
speakers stand-the front steps of
the Court House-the old soldiers OF
the county in the rear of them and
the men on horseback back of them
They closed in around the steps, and
the thousands Of people who were
there to hear the speeches closed
around them. The choir, consisting
of Is members selected from the
church cboirs of the Butler churches,
sang the Battle Cry of Freedom"
the soldiers joining in the chorus.
Then Col. Sullivan introduced l. Il.
Mitchell, Esq.. who made a very
good address of welcome. The choir
sang Marching Through Georgia, !"
and everybody joiued in the chorus
with will.
Col. Sullivan then introduced Col.
s. NJ. Jackson, whom the regiment
had selected to respond to the address
of welcome. He came forward and
made sensible and feeling address,
giving a short history of the regiment
and ending with beautiful compari-
son of the soldiers faith and hope in
the future of this nation to his faith
and hope in the Redeemer's cross.
The choir.then sang "When Johnny
Comes Marching Home Again." and
the regiment was asked to open
ranks 30 that the members of the re-
ception and entertainment committees
could introduce the members of the
regiment to those who were to enter
tain them.
They went to dinner, and at 2 p
M, had business meeting in the
courtroom and an address by Col.
McCleary.
During the morning twelve
pound brass field piece was discharg-
ed from the bill top south Of town.
and that afternoon it was brought
to town and fired on the
Diamond, thus adding to
the din and clatter of the oc-
casion, and at p. m. the members of
the regiment arranged themselves on
the Court House steps and bad their
picture taken.
There was no dress parade at p
NJ as advertised for the reason that the
soldiers were all at tea, but TIE Court
Room was crowded shortly after p.
NJ Col Jackson was called upon to
preside, the choir sang "My Country
tits of Thee".a Gen. Mccoy of Ty-
rome was called upon. He anuounc-
ed that he was getting up a history
of the regiment and would be pleased
to have information from all, and
then read graphic account of the
battle of Fredericksburg in general
and the part acted by the llth in par
ticular, the choir sang "Just before
The battle" and Maj Sloan was in
troduced, who compljmented tho re-
ception and gave an account of the
part taken by the llth at Gettys-
burg, and thought that the regiment
had not BEEN treated fairly by histor-
ians. Maj. Burke was then called
for and although the time fixed for
the banquet had arrived, he insi sted
upon giving his pant and shirt tail
story, and did SO to the great amuse-
ment of the boys. Col. Sullivan now
came in and informed Col. Jackson
that the coffee was getting cold, and
the ladies getting impatient 80 the reg
iment formed hastily and marched to
the Rink, and took their seats.
The chairman, Col. Sullivan, rap
ped for order at 9:35 p. M. and called
upon Rev. Loyal Young to ask a
blessing.
The Rink was lighted with electric
lights, handsomely decorated with
evergresns, flags, and corps and dlvi-
sion badges; the thirteen tables were
beautifully furnished, and were filed
with On abundance of cold meats,
cakes and fruits, the whole making as
grand spectacle as one would wish
to see, and rejecting great credit up
on the ladies and the committees
Hot coffee was provided, and every
body fell to eating and drinking,
while the choir sang various patriotic
songs The soldiers enjoyed the ban
quet. They met the enemy and ii
was theirs.